Chapter 17 – Friday nights

All she seems to do these days is be no more than the chef's understudy. She hasn't had time to do anything for herself for days. She works all the time, trying to compensate for all the work he or his minions do not do. Forgotten are her plans of testing new recipes or spending time with John and learning how to play golf. Each time he comes by she has to say no. The only thing she doesn't dare say no to is their "Friday night" as they've come to call it.

The first time they all sat down to dinner after coming back, Teyla and Rodney and John forced her to sit with them. John suggested they should do it more often – like on a regular basis – explaining to Teyla how some people tended to have a regular meeting at the end of their work week, just for the sake of seeing each other and having a good time. Teyla mentioned they do have that kind of encounter in her people too and thought it was a good idea. Soon enough, Ronon was added to the gang, his roar of laughter being both intimidating and a great comfort.

It's not always on a Friday night as they all have a different schedule. Fridays do not even mean anything there anyway. People work round the clock so having a weekend is kind of lost on everyone. But it's a set habit. Unwinding a little, connecting to others, swapping jokes and even a little bit of gossiping. The first time they did so, John steered her to the group as she was clearing tables, made her set her dirty dishes on a nearby table and forced her to sit. That's how it started. That's also how the new chef went from loathing her to hating her pure and simple – because people do not come to see her only because she fills their plates. He's filed a written complaint to Elizabeth who's answered by sitting with the group the next time and ostensibly asking Louise to join them. On those nights, she forgets about being bullied, feeling guilty and having nightmares filled with her past life and her more recent one.

Buckley has revealed himself to be exactly the jerk he seemed to be in the first place. What she's discovered is that he's incompetent as well. Though being told by John he would have to adapt to Atlantis' very peculiar pace, he has not. He still keeps office hours, giving his orders to Louise about what should be done and when but dropping by much later than her or his staff just to see if the work is done.

At first she thought bringing his own people meant he had trained them but she discovered on the very first day her staff had left and been replaced by his that he hadn't even done so, assuming it was the under-cook's job. The second dinner had been a nightmare. The meal was served much later to everyone's dismay though she saved the day by using pie shells she had frozen for when she would go on a mission and needed the staff to prepare quiches.

Rodney declares that night he's never had anything so yummy, making her laugh at his stubborness for not understanding that making quiche is the easiest thing in the world once you've made the shell. He gushes: "Yeah, but yours tastes so much better than any other I've had before. What's your secret?" he asks conspiratorially.

She leans towards him and whispers in his ear loud enough for anyone around to hear it though: "Love, Rodney... and maybe a pinch of nutmeg and the right amount of parmesan." She winks at him and saunters back to the kitchen, whistling as she enters it.

On those nights, John makes sure she goes to bed after their little party and doesn't go back to the kitchen to help clean and maybe cook some more. He walks her to her quarters and of late, tends to wait until she's brushed her teeth and changed into her pajamas. "Are you also going to tuck me in?" she teases him the first time he does it.

He pouts but doesn't relent. "Are you going to head back to the kitchen the minute I leave your room?" he counters, knowing she's done so the last couple of times they had a Friday night with the team. She blushes. He raises his eyebrows and waits, crossing his arms on his chest bullheadedly. "Sorry," she apologizes and he sighs, knowing it hurts her when he's pissed. "But you have to understand, John. I have too much work to do. If I don't go back now, I have to get up even earlier the next morning."

He tells Elizabeth about it. "I had surmised you were doing that," she remarks about his taking her back to her room. "You always leave with her..." He sees her look and knows it's more than concern for Louise that guides her words, even though she never intended to let it show. "Listen, 'Lizbeth," he says as he closes the door to her office, surprising her. "I want you to know it's not like that, for any of us."

She blushes ever so slightly. "And what do I think, John?"

He gives her that smile she knows is only for her. "You think I might have gotten more interested than I should. Am I wrong?"

She looks slightly embarrassed. "You're right and before you say anything else, I must say there's nothing wrong with that. Louise is a very sweet lady."

He laughs. "She is. And she also told me once if she were ever to consider being interested in a man ever again, she would go for General O'Neill. Pure speculation, of course, as we all know his heart belongs to a tall and slender blonde," he adds, waggling his eyebrows.

She laughs out loud. "Where did that conversation come from anyway?" she wonders.

"Well, I was trying to entice her to see people, even have a love life maybe. As you can see, she's not interested. I think General O'Neill was just a decoy." He falls silent. "How can I explain, 'Lizabeth? Rodney and I and Aiden when he was still with us..." A shadow crosses his face at the mention of the younger man's demise. "We were and still are her knights in shining armor. She deserves it and now more than ever. She's like the sister I never had. I've come to see her as one of my best friends too, even though I never told her so. She seems to hate the F word, for whatever reason I'll whittle from her one day, but now is not the time yet."

She smiles at him. As strange as it seems, that shy little cook has helped him open more than any therapy would ever manage and he seems to have done the same for her as well. She reflects that Rodney is more open too and she suspects spending time with Louise is no stranger to it either.

"Elizabeth?" he calls her, making her focus on the matter at hand. "Louise refuses to talk about it but I think Buckley bullies her into doing most of the work. I would like to get permission to monitor him." He raises his hand, seeing her ready to interrupt him. "I know the rules and I'm aware my main reason is personal. I know surveillance is usually used in cases of suspicion of treason but the guy clearly overworks her. She's not one to complain and I'm aware she told us she was able to take care of herself but if it happens to be the truth, it's so not fair! Please?" He gives her his best puppy look.

She shakes her head, sad they have reached such a situation once more after getting rid of Kavanagh who's asked for a transfer back to the SGC. "You have a go, Colonel, but only if you remain discreet about it. I have enough worry right now without getting a slap on the wrist or worse by the IOA."

"Understood, Ma'am."

"And John?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"If it so happens you're right, report to me. We''ll need to find a way to deal with him, no matter how influential his uncle is."

John has made a beeline for Rodney's lab once out of Elizabeth's office and asked him to help with his little project of his. They're currently discussing the matter outside on a balcony, not wanting to be overheard. Rodney is white with anger. "I'm going to kill the guy if you don't, I swear, Sheppard!"

"Who's going to get killed? Can I be of assistance? I'd love to help!" they hear behind them. They don't need to turn to know who's stepped on the balcony. The sarcastic lilt is Ronon's who's been told he could find Sheppard in Rodney's lab.

"Can't we ever have some privacy?" Rodney demands, rolling his eyes, exasperated.

Ronon's eyes crinkle with mirth. He chuckles. "I only mean to please!"

"I bet you do! Pleasing yourself by treating someone to a little torture session, right?" Rodney sniggers.

"You didn't seem to complain the last time I scared off that douche bag!" Ronon points out, reminding him of his encounter with Kavanagh in the conference room. "And I didn't even touch the guy! See, I'm ressourceful and very efficient... So, who do you need to kill?" he offers.

John has to admit. Ronon knows how to thaw the atmosphere. He chuckles. "We'll let you know if we need your expertise in the matter. Right now, I'm only trying to convince Rodney to set cameras in the kitchen area."

Ronon raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms on his broad chest, waiting for some more intel on the mystery at hand.

"Of course, I'll do it, Sheppard!" Rodney huffs, pained John would think he'd ever hesitate to do such a thing for a friend. "It's not I like bending the law but the guy needs to be caught. And sooner than later." Ronon clears his throat as they seem to have forgotten he was still there. "Oh yeah, right, sorry. Forgot to tell Chubaka here about our plan. As if he'd be of any help!" Rodney sniggers. Ronon steps closer, getting into Rodney's personal space. It's not he's really afraid of him, especially as John is right here and will stop the Satedan before anything stupid happens, right? He crosses his arms in defiance, or so he tells himself. "Well, for your guidance, John thinks the new chef might very well bully our beloved cook. We need to make sure of it before Elizabeth makes a decision." Ronon growls, making Rodney jump back. "Hey, big guy, Buckley is the villain of this story, not me!"

Ronon turns to Sheppard, looking murderous. "Let me handle it."

John lifts his hand. "Hey, we need to be sure. It's just an inkling. She doesn't want to say more than she's overworked. I can't act without evidence."

Ronon snorts disdainfully. "I trust your judgement, Sheppard. When was the last time you were wrong about someone?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

John pouts but does not relent. "Elizabeth said we report to her and that's what we'll do. Period. I'm sorry, big guy, but I won't humor you on that one. If you want to help, meet us tonight around two. We'll sneak into the kitchen and storage room and set the cameras."

Ronon nods. "Whatever you need."

"It's settled, then," Rodney nods too, his jaw set. "I will not let anyone bully one of my friends."

TBC